Brigadier SV Saraswati is the Deputy Director-General of Military Nursing Service in the Indian Army. She is known for her immense contribution to the MNS as a nurse administrator.
National Florence Nightingale Award 2020
On 20 September 2021, Brigadier SV Saraswati was honoured with the National Florence Nightingale Award in a virtual ceremony for her continuous dedication to the service and the department for the past three and a half decades. The award was given by President Ram Nath Kovind during the virtual ceremony.
The National Florence Nightingale Award is the highest award a nurse can achieve for her selfless devotion towards her service and for maintaining professionalism. Hailing from Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, Saraswati was commissioned into the MNS on 28 December 1983. With over 30 years of experience as a renowned operation theatre nurse, Saraswati has assisted in over 3,000 lifesaving and emergency surgeries. She has also trained residents and operation room nursing trainees during her three-decade-long career.
Over the years, SV Saraswati has prepared several patient teaching materials and she has improvised drape kits and suture packaging techniques for cardiac-related surgeries. Saraswati has also attended several national and international forums to represent MNS, and she has conducted several outreach activities for the Army soldiers and their families to teach them about basic life-support techniques. Before becoming the Deputy Director of MNS, she has served at several clinical and administrative positions.
Other Awards
Apart from the National Florence Nightingale Award, SV Saraswati has also received General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Commendation in 2005, United Nations Medal (MONOC) for her service in the field of nursing in 2007, and Army Staff Commendation in 2005.